BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 780

By: Turner, Sylvester

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, there is a shortage of qualified police officer applicants in many areas of Texas. One eligibility requirement for a beginning position with a police department is to have earned at least 60 hours college credit. Frequently, applicants who are lacking less than 10 hours are rejected until the person returns to college to reach the minimum required hours.

H.B. 780 provides for not more than 12 hours earned at the police officer training academy to be converted to college credit hours, thereby increasing the pool of qualified applicants.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 780 amends the Local Government Code provision relating to eligibility requirements for a beginning position with a police department in a certain municipalities to provide that, of the required 60 hours' credit in any area of study at an accredited college or university, not more than 12 of those credit hours may be earned for training at the police officer training academy operated or sponsored by the municipality.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.